Faculty: Harmit S. Kalia, DO

Division of Gastroenterology & Liver Diseases

Wolkoff Receives Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award

Allan Wolkoff, MDAllan Wolkoff, MD, Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at Einstein and Montefiore, and Professor of Medicine and Anatomy & Structural Biology at Einstein, received the 2012 Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award from the American Liver Foundation. This award is among the Foundation’s most prestigious honors and recognizes a scientist who has made a major contribution to the study of liver pathobiology and the prevention, treatment, or cure of liver disease.

Dr. Wolkoff's interest in research was sparked when he worked in a biochemistry lab to help pay college bills. He began his medical studies at Dartmouth Medical College and transferred to Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he obtained his M.D. degree. With the exception of a two year period when he was Clinical Associate in Gastroenterology-Hepatology in the Digestive Disease Branch, National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism and Digestive Disease, he has remained at Einstein. His early mentor, Irwin M. Arias, M.D. of the National Institutes of Health said of Wolkoff’s work, “He built an exemplary global reputation in hepatology research, education, training and scholarship. A major participant in the creation of the Marion Bessin Liver Research Center, Dr. Wolkoff has taken advantage of the strong, interactive basic science departments and is a leader in bridging understanding of hepatocyte biology with the pathogenesis of acquired and inheritable liver diseases.”

Dr. Wolkoff is a pioneer in the combining of disciplines that inform basic understanding of hepatocyte function and relation to disease and is recognized worldwide for providing new windows into physiology and pathophysiology. He has had articles published in over 100 peer-reviewed publications, given many invited lectures and has had continuous NIH-supported research. In addition, he has served on advisory committees of several NIH-supported liver research centers. In 2006, he was presented the AASLD Distinguished Service Award.